Taming Metal

By her junior year of college it became clear to that art was her passion. Graduating from Berkley in 1930 she already had her own one-woman show. Living amid the natural beauty of the Oregon coast as a child, her works reflect this organic influence as seen in Structure and Flow, a fountain with twisting latticework that resides at the Long Beach Art Museum.
Falkenstein’s experience with contemporary artists of the 30-40’s reinforced her interest in abstraction, as well as the idea that function does not detract from a work’s overall appeal. That radical mindset allowed Ms. Falkentstein freedom to experiment with a wide variety of new techniques and materials. During the 1930’s she created sculptures from clay ribbons formed into Möbius strips, woven together. These were some of the earliest American nonobjective sculptures. Economic necessity caused Falkenstein to inventively use inexpensive nontraditional materials for her artwork like wooden logs, stovepipe wire, and lead bars. Falkenstein continued to use such unusual materials even after she was able to afford more traditional supplies. Economics gave us large, airy forms constructed of unusual materials and became part of her famous style.
Falkenstein preferred the use of the word structure to refer to her work also applying the term to her paintings and prints later in life. Many of her works have a structure which appears as if it could grow, infinitely expanding. Her works on the Fulton Mall; Three Fires, reflect this organic signature form. Over the course of her long career as an artist Clare Falkenstein produced over 4,000 sculptures, paintings and drawings that were, at times, considered controversial. Clare Falkenstein was certainly a woman ahead of her time!Join us as we explore these controversial structures of Claire Falkenstein, and others, along the Fulton Mall on the Urban Art Adventure this weekend. 9/3/11 10a-12n. And we’re in luck… the city has some of the fountains working again!Advance reservations necessary via info@AboutTownTaste.com or 559.392.4471